World Cup: Shankland blunders, Gukesh enters world’s top 10

by Carlos Alberto Colodro
8/3/2023 – Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, Ian Nepomniachtchi and Dommaraju Gukesh were the highest-rated players to start their participation at the FIDE World Cup with victories. Gukesh’s win prompted him to join the world’s top 10 in the live ratings list, while Praggnanandhaa and Wei Yi scored brilliant wins. In the women’s section, more than half the games ended decisively, as most favourites failed to get more than half points in the first confrontations of round 2. | Photo: FIDE / Anna Shtourman

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Carlsen scores, Karthik holds Naka to a draw

More than half the games finished drawn on the first day of round 2 at the open section of the FIDE World Cup (22 games ended decisively and 42 were drawn). Fighting chess was the rule rather than the exception, nonetheless, with Bogdan-Daniel Deac needing more than six hours and a half to take down Pablo Acosta, just to give an example.

Out of the eight highest-rated grandmasters, Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, Ian Nepomniachtchi and Dommaraju Gukesh kicked off their participation in Baku with victories. Second seed Hikaru Nakamura, a favourite to excel in the rapid and blitz tiebtreakers, was held to a draw by Karthik Venkataraman, who showed remarkable poise on his way to grabbing a half point (with black) against his famed opponent.

Impressively, the win obtained by Gukesh prompted him to enter the world’s top 10 in the live ratings list. The youngster defeated Misratdin Iskandarov with white in a 41-move encounter. The 17-year-old from Chennai now stands 0.6 rating points behind Indian hero Vishy Anand in the world ranking — and 23.6 points behind Alireza Firouzja, who is still a junior and is not playing in Baku.


Check out Gukesh’s visit to the ChessBase studio, where he was a brilliant guest in Karsten Müller’s Endgame Magic show...


Ian Nepomniachtchi

Ian Nepomniachtchi | Photo: chess.com / Maria Emelianova

The biggest upset of the day in the open section was suffered by 22nd seed Sam Shankland. The 2018 US champion blundered in a non-trivial-yet-drawn rook endgame against Ivan Schitco.

Shankland vs. Schitco

To keep the balance, White here needs to play either 57.Kc2 or 57.Kd2, as his h-pawn will counter Black grabbing the pawn on a3 and himself getting a passer. Instead, 57.Kxc4 loses on the spot to 57...Rc8+ 58.Kd4 Rbc3

And mate next move. Shankland resigned.

Ivan Schitco

Ivan Schitco, who has already knocked out one higher-rated opponent in Baku, beat Sam Shankland with the black pieces | Photo: chess.com / Maria Emelianova

Brilliant wins for Pragg and Wei

Gukesh was not the only prodigy that impressed in Wednesday’s round. His compatriot Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu (aged 17) and Wei Yi (who surpassed the 2700-rating barrier at 15, now aged 24) grabbed brilliant wins to take the lead in their matches.

Pragg played a merciless attack against Maxime Lagarde with the black pieces.

Lagarde vs. Praggnanandhaa

14...Nh4 15.Rxh4 Qg1+ 16.Bf1 e3 was the beginning of an invasion that ended with Black’s king caught in a mating net about 20 moves later.

The Frenchman resigned after 37...f5+ with mate-in-two on the board. Either ...Qg6 or ...Qd3 (if Nxf5) will seal the deal for Black.

Praggnanandhaa Rameshababu

Praggnanandhaa Rameshababu | Photo: chess.com / Maria Emelianova

Meanwhile, Wei showcased his well-known tactical competence to counterattack Brazilian GM Luis Paulo Supi in an entertaining, double-edged struggle. Find below expert annotations and video analysis by IM Robert Ris!

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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Nd5 Nxd5 8.exd5 Nb8 8...Ne7 9.a4 Be7 10.Be2 0-0 11.Bd2 11.0-0 11...Nd7 12.a5 f5 13.0-0 a6 14.Na3 e4 15.Nc4 Ne5 16.Nb6 Rb8 17.f4 exf3 18.Bxf3 Bf6 18...g5 1/2-1/2 (38) Caruana,F (2832)-Carlsen,M (2835) London 2018 19.Bb4 g5?! 19...f4!? 20.Qd2 20.Be4 Bg4 21.Qd2 Bg5 20...Bf5 21.Rae1 21.Qxf4 Bg5 22.Qd4 Qf6 23.Bc3 Qh6 21...g5 1/2-1/2 (31) Quanzaah,E (2166)-Karpanov, V (2195) ICCF email 2019 20.c4 Bg7 21.Qd2 f4 22.Be4 Bf5 23.Rae1 23.Bxf5 Rxf5 24.c5 dxc5 25.Bxc5± 23...Bxe4 24.Rxe4 f3 24...Qf6!? 25.c5 25.gxf3? Nxf3+ 25...fxg2?! 25...Qf6 26.cxd6 Qg6 27.Qe3 Rf4 28.Rxf4 gxf4 29.Qd2 26.Qxg2 Rxf1+ 27.Qxf1 dxc5 28.Bxc5 g4? 28...Qc7 29.b4 Bf8 29.Qf5! Nf3+ 29...Qf6 30.Qxf6 Bxf6 31.Bd6 Re8 32.Nd7 Nxd7 32...Nf3+ 33.Kg2 Rxe4 34.Nxf6++- 33.Rxe8+ 30.Kh1! 30.Kg2 Nh4+ 30.Kf1 Nd2+ 30...Qc7 31.d6 Qc6 32.Nc8 Rxc8 32...Qxc8 33.d7 Qd8 34.Qe6+ Kh8 35.Qe8+ Bf8 36.Bxf8 33.d7 Rf8 33...Rd8 34.Re8+‼ Rxe8 35.Qd5+‼ Qxd5 36.dxe8Q+ Bf8 37.Qxf8# 34.Qxf8+ 34.Bxf8 Qc1+ 35.Kg2 Qg1# 34...Bxf8 35.d8Q Qxc5 35...Qxe4 36.Qxf8# 36.Rxg4+ Kf7 37.Rf4+ Kg8 38.Rxf3 38.Rxf3 Qc1+ 39.Kg2 Qc2+ 40.Kh3 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Wei,Y2726Supi,L25821–02023B33FIDE World Cup 20232.1

Round 2 games - Open

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1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bb7 5.d4 Bg7 6.0-0 0-0 7.Re1 e6 8.Bf4 d6 9.Qc2 c5 10.dxc5 bxc5 11.Nc3 Qe7 12.Rad1 Rd8 13.Qd2 Ne8 14.Bh6 Nc6 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.b3 Nf6 17.Qb2 Kg8 18.Rd2 d5 19.e3 dxc4 20.bxc4 Na5 21.Rxd8+ Rxd8 22.Ne5 Bxg2 23.Kxg2 Qc7 24.Rd1 Rxd1 25.Nxd1 Qd6 26.Nf3 Qxd1 27.Qxf6 Nxc4 28.e4 Qd3 29.Ng5 Qd7 30.h4 h6 31.Nf3 Qc6 32.h5 Qxe4 33.hxg6 Qxg6 34.Qf4 Qd3 35.Qb8+ Kg7 36.Qxa7 Ne3+ 37.fxe3 Qe2+ 38.Kh3 Qxf3 39.a4 Qh1+ 40.Kg4 Qe4+ 41.Kh3 c4 42.Qc7 Kg6 43.Kh2 Qc2+ 44.Kh3 Qxa4 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Pantsulaia,L2564Carlsen,M28350–12023A15FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Nakamura,H2787Karthik,V2565½–½2023C78FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Mchedlishvili,M2561Caruana,F27820–12023D02FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Nepomniachtchi,I2779Asadli,V25671–02023C43FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Nesterov,A2554Giri,A2775½–½2023E00FIDE World Cup 20232.1
So,W2769Can,E2570½–½2023B51FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Erdos,V2571Radjabov,T2747½–½2023C42FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Gukesh,D2744Iskandarov,M25511–02023C90FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Tin,J2573Mamedyarov,S2742½–½2023D22FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Vachier-Lagrave,M2739Dragnev,V2576½–½2023D35FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Janik,I2548Dominguez Perez,L27390–12023E20FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Grischuk,A2736Daneshvar,B2577½–½2023D37FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Kuybokarov,T2581Yu,Y27350–12023C42FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Duda,J2732Cordova,E25421–02023B61FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Ivanisevic,I2536Le,Q2728½–½2023D02FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Wei,Y2726Supi,L25821–02023B33FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Sanal,V2585Abdusattorov,N2725½–½2023C47FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Vitiugov,N2720Fridman,D25861–02023C42FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Suleymanli,A2586Maghsoodloo,P27190–12023C65FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Vidit,S2719Mastrovasilis,D2587½–½2023D53FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Adhiban,B2587Dubov,D27160–12023C84FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Shankland,S2711Schitco,I25070–12023A46FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Azarov,S2589Erigaisi,A2710½–½2023A21FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Wang,H2709Jumabayev,R2589½–½2023C50FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Ivic,V2590Vallejo Pons,F27060–12023B12FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Amin,B2694Albornoz Cabrera,C2591½–½2023D77FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Smirin,I2595Shevchenko,K26940–12023D35FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Van Foreest,J2693Adly,A2596½–½2023B39FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Acosta,P2485Deac,B26930–12023D43FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Anton Guijarro,D2691Gadimbayli,A2483½–½2023A05FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Lagarde,M2599Praggnanandhaa,R26900–12023C60FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Keymer,V2690Dardha,D26001–02023A07FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Salinas Herrera,P2468Tabatabaei,M2689½–½2023B51FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Navara,D2689Huschenbeth,N2603½–½2023C50FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Fier,A2604Robson,R2689½–½2023E00FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Nihal,S2688Bachmann,A26041–02023B40FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Puranik,A2605Svidler,P26880–12023A29FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Sarana,A2685Huang,R2445½–½2023E36FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Antipov,M2606Grandelius,N2684½–½2023C55FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Esipenko,A2683Safarli,E2607½–½2023A36FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Brkic,A2608Howell,D2677½–½2023C45FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Fedoseev,V2676Pechac,J2608½–½2023D34FIDE World Cup 20232.1
De Silva,L2433Wojtaszek,R2676½–½2023B51FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Volokitin,A2674Vocaturo,D2609½–½2023D86FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Paravyan,D2612Bluebaum,M2672½–½2023B12FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Donchenko,A2668Bartel,M2614½–½2023D37FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Berkes,F2615Gelfand,B2668½–½2023E24FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Korobov,A2667Iturrizaga Bonelli,E26171–02023A50FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Henriquez Villagra,C2618Ivanchuk,V2667½–½2023A45FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Ponomariov,R2664Kollars,D2618½–½2023D73FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Svane,F2618Cheparinov,I2663½–½2023C43FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Bacrot,E2662Indjic,A2619½–½2023C42FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Leiva,G2374Salem,A2661½–½2023D33FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Guseinov,G2661Bjerre,J2624½–½2023C54FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Ragger,M2624Sindarov,J2659½–½2023D85FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Saric,I2657Svane,R2625½–½2023C50FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Kuzubov,Y2628Narayanan,S2656½–½2023D38FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Santos Latasa,J2656Meier,G2629½–½2023C10FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Durarbayli,V2631Moussard,J26540–12023C43FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Fressinet,L2652Abasov,N2632½–½2023E04FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Mamedov,R2636Predke,A2651½–½2023B40FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Liang,A2649Yilmaz,M2639½–½2023A20FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Yakubboev,N2640Gledura,B2645½–½2023C88FIDE World Cup 20232.1
Nguyen,T2642Tari,A26410–12023C55FIDE World Cup 20232.1

Replay games from all round at Live.ChessBase.com

Women’s: Vaishali bamboozles Guichard

There was a higher percentage of decisive games in the women’s section, as 13 out of 32 games finished drawn on Wednesday. However, out of the eight top seeds, only Humpy Koneru and Alexandra Kosteniuk managed to grab full points — all six remaining favourites drew lower-rated opposition.

As for upsets, only Medina Aulia (Indonesia, 2355) managed to take a big scalp, as she got the better of Sara Khadem (Spain, 2488). On their part, Mai Narva and Olga Badelka grabbed wins over slightly higher-rated rivals.

Sara Khadem

Sara Khadem, now representing Spain, needs a win on Thursday to remain in contention | Photo: FIDE / Stev Bonhage

Curiously, Pragg’s sister Vaishali followed in his brother’s footsteps in defeating a French opponent on Wednesday. Unlike Pragg, who had a dominating performance, Vaishali was on the back foot in her game with white against Pauline Guichard — but managed to swindle her way into victory.

Vaishali vs. Guichard

Both 56...Qb1 and Guichard’s 56...c1Q are winning for Black here. However, after 57.Bxc1 the “automatic” 57...Rxc1 (which was seen in the game) suddenly restores the balance — 57...Rd7 was clearly winning.

Unfortunately for Guichard, things went from bad to worse after 58.Nxh6+ Kh7 59.Nxf7, as she erred decisively with 59...Qb6 when, for example, 59...Qb1 was a quick way to force a perpetual.

Vaishali had no trouble finding the forced mate: 60.Qf5+ Kg8 61.Ng5, and the queen and knight tandem won the day for the Indian rising star.

Vaishali Rameshababu

Vaishali Rameshbabu | Photo: chess.com / Maria Emelianova

Round 2 games - Women’s

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1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2 0-0 6.0-0 c6 7.Nc3 a5 8.b3 b6 9.Qd3 Ba6 10.a4 Nbd7 11.Rd1 Bb4 12.Bb2 Rc8 13.Na2 Bd6 14.Nc3 Bb4 15.Na2 Bd6 16.Nc3 Bb4 ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Ju,W2564Repkova,E2312½–½2023E06FIDE World Cup Women 20232.1
Ordaz Valdes,L2318Goryachkina,A2557½–½2023D35FIDE World Cup Women 20232.1
Koneru,H2553Priyanka,N22931–02023D30FIDE World Cup Women 20232.1
Gomes,M2326Lagno,K2552½–½2023A06FIDE World Cup Women 20232.1
Kosteniuk,A2532Yan,T22771–02023C11FIDE World Cup Women 20232.1
Ryjanova,J2273Tan,Z2523½–½2023E00FIDE World Cup Women 20232.1
Dzagnidze,N2511Kulon,K2331½–½2023E10FIDE World Cup Women 20232.1
Rakhmangulova,A2347Muzychuk,M2511½–½2023C55FIDE World Cup Women 20232.1
Muzychuk,A2504Daulyte-Cornette,D23481–02023B33FIDE World Cup Women 20232.1
Rudzinska,M2257Dronavalli,H25000–12023C44FIDE World Cup Women 20232.1
Zhu,J2498Francisco Guecamburu,C23521–02023C60FIDE World Cup Women 20232.1
Beydullayeva,G2355Shuvalova,P24960–12023E04FIDE World Cup Women 20232.1
Khademalsharieh,S2488Aulia,M23550–12023A04FIDE World Cup Women 20232.1
Cyfka,K2356Khotenashvili,B2475½–½2023D53FIDE World Cup Women 20232.1
Batsiashvili,N2474Mammadova,G23571–02023C48FIDE World Cup Women 20232.1
Munkhzul,T2226Paehtz,E24710–12023B90FIDE World Cup Women 20232.1
Assaubayeva,B2469Gong,Q2223½–½2023D32FIDE World Cup Women 20232.1
Yip,C2369Zhao,X24570–12023B01FIDE World Cup Women 20232.1
Arabidze,M2451Cori T.,D23691–02023A41FIDE World Cup Women 20232.1
Bivol,A2371Mammadzada,G24481–02023B92FIDE World Cup Women 20232.1
Krush,I2447Ouellet,M22011–02023A18FIDE World Cup Women 20232.1
Tsolakidou,S2373Osmak,Y2444½–½2023A13FIDE World Cup Women 20232.1
Javakhishvili,L2439Munguntuul,B23741–02023D02FIDE World Cup Women 20232.1
Melia,S2377Ushenina,A2434½–½2023C64FIDE World Cup Women 20232.1
Vaishali,R2431Guichard,P23841–02023C65FIDE World Cup Women 20232.1
Mona,K2106Roebers,E24190–12023E73FIDE World Cup Women 20232.1
Bulmaga,I2416Narva,M23870–12023B40FIDE World Cup Women 20232.1
Milliet,S2388Injac,T2415½–½2023E01FIDE World Cup Women 20232.1
Salimova,N2409Kiolbasa,O23941–02023A46FIDE World Cup Women 20232.1
Badelka,O2397Garifullina,L24081–02023D38FIDE World Cup Women 20232.1
Hoang,T2402Divya,D2400½–½2023D04FIDE World Cup Women 20232.1
Fataliyeva,U2401Socko,M2401½–½2023B27FIDE World Cup Women 20232.1

Replay games from all round at Live.ChessBase.com


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All games with computer analysis: Open | Women’s


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Carlos Colodro is a Hispanic Philologist from Bolivia. He works as a freelance translator and writer since 2012. A lot of his work is done in chess-related texts, as the game is one of his biggest interests, along with literature and music.

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